The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-08-12
CHAPTER XXXV.
ERNEsT's EVIL DESTINY.

VI Uue pTulClpfti nOUel, ttilu
into a private sitting room, like human
bombshell of attractive appearance, some
what to the astonishment of a bald old |
gentleman who was sitting at breakfast
"Good gracious, Dorothyl have you gone |
suddenly madF |
"Oh, Reginald, the Conway Castle is nearly |
in, and have been to the office and got leave |
for us to go off in the launch so come along
quick"
"What time does the launch leaver
"At a quarter TO 10 exactly
"Then we have three-quarters Of an hour"
"Oh, please, Reginald, be quick; It might
go before, you know"
Mr.. Cardus smiled, and, rising, put on his
hat and coat, ITO oblige Dorothy" he said,
but, as u matter Of fact, he was as excited as
she was. There was patch Of red on each
of his pale cheeks, and his hand shook.
In quarter Of an hour they were walking
up and down by the quay by the custom
house, waiting for the launch to start.
"After all these years." said Mr.. Cardus,
sand blind"
"Do you think that he will be much disAg-
ured Reginaldr
II don't know, dear; your brother said
nothing about it."
II can hardly believe it; it seems so
strange to think that he and Jeremy should
nave Deeu SplTtu Out CI lll buOS6 peOplb.
How good God isv
"A cynic," replied Mr.. Cardus, with
smile, cor the relations of the other people
might draw different conclusion"
But Dorothy was thinking how good God
was to her. She was dressed IN pink that
morning, and
Oh, she looked sweet
AS the little pink flower that grows in the wheat.
| Dorothy neither was nor ever would be, a
| pretty woman, but she was essentially a
charming one. Her kindly, puzzled face (and
to Judge from the little wrinkles on 1t, she had
never got to the bottom of the questions which
contracted her forehead as child, her steady
blue eyes, her diminuGve, rounded form,
| and, above all, the indescribabe light of
goodness which shone round her like a halo,
all made her charming. What did it matter
| if the mouth was little wide, or the nose
somewhat "tip tiltedl" Those who can look
SO sweet are able to dispense with such fieshly
attributes as Grecian nose or chiseled lips
| At the least, they will have the best Of It
after youth Is past and let me remind you,
! my young and lovely reader, that the longer
and dustier portion of lifes road winds away
toward the pale horizon Of our path on the
further side of the grim mile post marked
"30n
But what made her chiefly attractive was
her piquant, taking manner, and the chic OF
her presence. She was such a perfect lady.
"All aboard if you please" broke in the
agent. "Run in the gangwayr and they were
off toward the great gray vessel with blue
pennant at her top.
1t was short run, but it seemed long to
Dorothy and the old gentleman with her.
Bigger and bigger grew the great vessel, till
at last it seemed to swallow up their tiny
steamer.
"Ease her! Look out for the line therel
Now haul away! Make fastp
1t was done in an instant, and next moment
they stood upon the broad white deck, amid
the crowd of passengers, and were looking
round for Ernest and Jeremy.
But they were not to be seen.
81 hope they are here" faltered Dorothy.
Mr. Cardus took his hat Off, and wiped hii
bald head. He too hoped that they wer'
there
At that moment Dorothy became aware o.
great black man. clad in white smocl
pulled on over great coat and carrying I
big spear and kerrie in his hand, who wa
pushing his way toward them. Next momen
he stood before them saluting vigorously
"Koos" he said, thrusting the spear into th
air before Mr.. Cardus astonished nose.
"Inkosi Casa" tchieftainess), he repeated
going through the same process befor
Dorothy. "This way, master; this way
missile The chief without eyes send me t
you. This way; the lion bring him now"
They followed him through the press towar
the after part of the ship, while giving up th
unfamiliar language he vociferated in Zul
, | Gt might have been Sanskrit for all the
knew;
snake way, you low peoplel make way fc
the old man with the shining head, on who's
brow sits wisdom, and the fair young maidei
the sweet rosebud, who comes" etc.
At that moment Dorothy's quick eye saw
, great man issuing from cabin, leading al
other man by the hand. And then she forg'
everything and ran forward.
r "Oh, Ernest, Ernestp she cried.
$ The blind mans cheek flushed at the mus
8 of her voice. He drew his hand from Jer
my's and stretched out his arms toward Il
, voice. 1t would have been easy to avo
them-one need never be kissed by bin
man-but she did not avoid them. On Il
= contrary, she placed herself SO that the gro
6 ing arms closed round her, with a cry {
o "Dolly, where are youi"
"Here, Ernest. herel" and In another N
y ment he had drawn her to him and kissed
a, on the face, aud she had returned the XII
s. Oh, fie Dorothy, iel
10 Then she kissed Jeremy, too, or ratI
ie Jeremy lifted her up two or three feet a
~ kissed her-it came to the same thing, A
er then Mr., Cardus wrung them both by
IN hand, wringing Ernest's the hardest, and n
OF zoolu stood by. and, Zulu fashion, chante,
"a little song of his own improvising, about h
u the chiefs came back to their kraal aftei
us long expedition, in which they had, etc,--a
or how wisdom In the shape of a shining heaC
ch and ancient one, the husband without q
's- doubt of many wives and the father of
ng least hundred children, etc.--and beauty
" the shape of a sweet and small one etc, e
~ and finally they all went very near to cry
ed and dancing a fling on the quarterback
gether,
or And then they all talked at once, and
OF about collecting their things In a mud
OF headed fashion, and when these had been
ch in pile, and Mazooku seated, assegai
all, upon the top of them a solemn warn
led TO thieves and i'll would it have gone v
st, the thief who dared to meddle with that p
started of to inspect Ernest's great bl
ate horse, the Devil
in And behold, Dorothy stroked the De-
MS nose, and he, recognizing how sweet
the good she was abandoned his usual hal